Job Discussion Forums

[jimi1999uk]

Hi Xie.
I'm sad to say that at the 11th hour I cancelled the placement.

I did this as professionally as I could. I contacted the school the day before (dickish I know but it couldn't be helped) and said I couldn't come.

I was a COMPLETE mess at the prospect of teaching. I asked the school for 2 days "settling in" time and it was denied. The plan was for me to arrive at close to midnight at my flat, then at 7.45am THE NEXT DAY teach a class that I knew NOTHING about whatsoever (no levels, usual modes of teaching, nothing).

Believe me. I did spend a lot of time trying to create lesson plans the days before but they weren't great. Figuring out things to do in a vacumn proved impossible. Being of a slightly nervous disposition generally I found this situation unbearable and worried myself sick at this situation.

I kept saying to myself it'll be ok, just go and figure it out. Then as it got to the day before I was due to fly I was a wreck.

I cancelled with the school and wrote some long letters to them saying that the start time of less than 12 hours after arriving was the main stumbling block. They backed down considerably when they saw how serious this had stressed me out but by then the damage was done (I'd missed my flight, wasted AGES with plans, fell behind in my OU studies).

I could've dealt with this better and been more emphatic with my demands at the outset but I didn't. I'm certain if I had a few days to relax and get my bearings I would've went but the immediate start and my inexperience proved too intense a thought.

I was very sad after my cancellation. I was distraught, had tears, depression and annoyance that I'm going to have to endure my MASSIVELY awful living situation in the UK for another 7/8 months AT LEAST now. I also lost money with my flights.

I know I can teach and enjoy it but I'm very much a noob and I just really didn't believe I could rise to these difficulties.

My plan now is to try to get summer camp jobs in England this summer and offer one-to-one lessons for experience in my home town.

[spiral78]

jimi, I'm really sorry it didn't work out for you. Good luck in future!

[nomad soul]

Jimi, to build your confidence, consider volunteering just one day a week as an ESL classroom tutor/assistant at one of your local non-profit literacy or ESL organizations. This would give you the opportunity to work stress-free alongside experienced ESL teachers and gain more supervised teaching practice.

Good luck!

[jimi1999uk]

Thanks for your thoughts.

I think the main stumbling block is I've been unemployed essentially for YEARS and I've just fallen into a "learned helplessness" sort of trap where I can't believe I can do anything.

At some level I know I'm capable (most of an English degree finished and recent CertTESOL victory) but BELIEVING it is another thing

Hi nomad. I'd like to be able to do some teaching but where I'm from (Glasgow) alot of the ELT provision is provided by the colleges I hear. I've put a few gumtree ads up for free language swaps and have organised a meet up next week in regards to this.

I need to do some stuff to improve my confidence for sure....sigh

[artemisia]

Hi Jimi

I think you were wise to let this one go despite the huge disruption, loss of money and consequences in terms of your current living situation.

I think it was unreasonable of the school to expect you to arrive and begin the following morning ... but high schools can be like this everywhere! It would've been a stressful situation for anyone, but especially for someone who is inexperienced. On the positive side, you were offered this job and there will be other opportunities.

I'd strongly recommend observing as many ESL classes as possible (different levels) if you can find local schools and institutions/ experienced teachers who agree to this. Sometimes it's just helpful to find out about the teaching objectives of a particular class, see something 'in action', take notes, and think about how you might go about teaching the same thing (preferably before and then again after the class). You don't always have to be just a passive observer either. If appropriate, (and naturally in agreement with the class teacher), later on you could participate yourself by chatting to students and possibly help teach a segment or two. You'll start to feel again that it's something you can manage, while picking up some useful tips!

[Xie Lin]